Asked if he had done something similar to force through a move to Anfield, Lallana told reporters: “I didn’t say I’d never play for the club again. That’s completely false.

“Once I knew of Liv erpool’s interest, I asked the club if they could come to an agreement and that it would be my wish to leave and join Liverpool.

“I’ll make no secret of that. I’m an ambitious person.

“I could have stayed at Southampton until I retired. But at the age I was at, and with the opportunity I had, I couldn’t have turned it down. I would have regretted it at the end of my career if I had.”